Coachella Spotlight #20: Duke Dumont

When the Coachella Line Up first came out I wasn't really aware of who Duke Dumont was. I fiigured he was just another name that I will probably skip over and not think twice about. Then it happened..

Duke Dumont finally jumped on my radar just over a month ago and his name instantly went from 'don't care' to 'don't miss!' His song I Got U featuring Jax Jones is awesome. It has been one of my go too mood lifters ever since I heard it for the first time. The simple piano chords and the sincere vocals make this one hell of a feel good track that I am sure you will hear more as the summer approaches. Check it out below if you aren't familiar!

Upon hearing I Got U, I had to see what else I could find by this seemingly new producer. I quickly learned he isn't a new producer; this british DJ has been perfecting his production skills over the past 3 or 4 years. My next favorite track of his is called Hold On featuring MNEK. It is a really nice deep house track that has a little bit more of an emotional vibe to it thanks to the awesome vocals. Check it out below.



Lastly I want to highlight one of his remixes that I just realized has been on my playlist rotation for months now. I never made this connection until now, but his remix of HAIM's Falling is fantastic. So many new DJ's, so little time! I love the way he keeps the vocals intact and just creates a great melody that elevates the tracks feeling to a whole new level of positivity. HAIM's original is great, but this remix takes the cake. Check it out below!



I can't wait to see what kind of set Duke Dumont lays down in the Sahara Tent in a couple weeks! See you there!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #19: Flight Facilities

You know their music, but you probably don't know their name. Get familiar with Flight Facilities before Coachella!

This Australian DJ duo burst onto the scene in a big way back in 2010. Their first track was the beautiful Crave You, which you may know from Adventure Club's dubstep remix of the track which catapulted Flight Facilities into the limelight. I don't know a person that hasn't heard that remix. It was massive. So, to shed some light on a different version, I wanted to share with you all the Cassian remix of Crave You. It keeps the same tempo but has a much more funky vibe. I prefer it to the original and the Adventure Club remix. Check it out below!

My favorite track of theirs though has to be I Don't Believe featuring Elizabeth Rose. I love the production on this track. The quick guitar strumming and the constant hi-hats make this a dancefloor filler. It just makes you want to move! Check it out below.



Lastly I wanted to leave you with a cool new remix of their latest track, Stand Still, by a new producer I recently discovered called Wave Racer. This track has a very unique sound that I think is really fresh. I love the way they used the whistling over the choppy electro synths. The two sounds create a nice contrast that makes the song that much cooler. Check it out for yourself below!



Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #17: †††

With easily the strangest band name at Coachella this year, ††† earned themselves a spot in my Coachella Spotlight series.

†††, also called Crosses to us that speak using real words, is an LA-based trio that was formed by Deftones singer Chino Moreno, Far guitarist Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom. Today mark the release of their debut album, also called Crosses. After releasing 2 EP's instead of the band releasing a third, they decided to release an album with remastered versions of the tracks on the first EP's as well as 5 new tracks that would have made up the third EP. 

Their music is definitely on the darker side. You can really hear the influence each of the three members bring along with them, especially the deftones. The first single to be released off the album is The Epilogue. This song seems more poppy than their other music, but it is still a solid chill out rock track. Check it out.

The next song of theirs I want to feature is called Telepathy. This song came off of their first EP and was one of the first Crosses tracks available on the internet. Their older music has much more electronic influence than their newer material. Check out Telepathy below



I love the way they play with the cross symbol. It is difficult to get away with using religious symbols in your art without people reacting in certain ways. I think it works so well for these guys because you go in with no idea what to expect from them, and on the flip side, what you would expect from them probably isn't even close to what they are. Since Coachella is all about new music and experiences, check them out while you're there and try something different!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #16: Anna Lunoe

Here is another artist that will be performing at Coachella that I was previously unfamiliar with but am now very much intrigued to see live this year. Get to know Anna Lunoe with me so we can party to her groovy tunes together!

Anna Lunoe is a DJ and producer from Sydney, Australia that also does her own vocals in her tracks. I have always loved when producers can also sing, or when singers can produce their own music. I think it shows how much talent they actually have when they can do everything themselves. Her sound is very house-y and fun but also slightly on the more mellow side, which is always cool with me. Her latest track, Breathe, is a perfect example of the kind of house music I am referring too. It fits perfectly with the style of music I am really into right now, so I will definitely have to check her out when I'm roaming the Polo Field grounds. Check out Breathe below!

I don't really know what to expect from an Anna Lunoe set, but if it is anything like her music then I am sure that it will be very enjoyable! Here is another track she has that features another Coachella Artist! Her track I Met You features production from Flume, so you know it will be good! Check it out below.



There is nothing like falling in love with an artist at Coachella for the first time. Maybe Anna Lunoe will be your Coachella crush this year?? I guess you will have to check her out and find out!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #15: Blood Orange

Today I wanted to shed some light on an artist performing at Coachella that I haven't heard before this morning. I don't know whether it was his name, his picture, or both at the same time that made me look his music up, but I feel like this could be a cool artist to see during the day to just kick it and watch while you hang out with your friends and try to escape the hot desert sun in the Gobi or Majove tents. Cool off and check out Blood Orange!

Blood Orange, a.k.a. Devonte Hynes, is a British singer/songwriter who has been pursuing a musical career since 2004. He dabbled in a few different bands and songwriting projects for other artists until he formed Lightspeed Champion in 2007. As Lightspeed Champion he released two alternative/indie rock albums that began to show Dev and his style off to the world. By 2009 Lightspeed Champion had gone on an indefinite hiatus, leaving Dev free to explore his musical career on his own. Then he formed Blood Orange with just him, a laptop and a guitar.

Blood Orange is much more contemporary sounding, with its soulful/80's sounding electronic beats and vocals. I really like what he has done with his new found direction. It reminds me of The Weeknd at times, but less talk about drugs and girls wanting to be naked and more self-reflective lyrics about his personal feelings or relationships.

His latest album, Cupid Deluxe, is full of groovy tunes that make me excited to see him at Coachella. The first track, Chamakay, sets the tone for the album with its subdued, whisper-y vocals, xylophone-esque synths and smooth saxophone to bring it all home at the end. Check it out below and get in the mood.

The other track that stood out to me was also the most popular track on the album, called You're Not Good Enough. This song has a strong guitar riff throughout that brings a little more life to this track compared to some of the others. I love the synths he uses to fill the space in the background. They give it that 80's vibe that is super in right now. Check it out below



Lastly I wanted to show one of his older songs that I think is great. He covered Florence + The Machine's Never Let Me Go, but left a good amount of Florence Welch's vocals in his version as he sings along side her. It is really beautiful. I can see this track never getting old, as it has so much emotion and power with its minimal beat allowing the vocals to shine. This is one of the best covers I have ever heard.



Make sure you check out Blood Orange at Coachella! You can always use a good chill-out sesh to refresh yourself for the rest of the night.

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #13: Leading Ladies Edition

2014 is Coachella's year of the leading lady. The line up contains a plethora of solo female vocalists, some you know very well, and some you do not. In honor of this insurgence of leading ladies, I wanted to briefly touch on some of these performers that I think people should go see at Coachella this year.

1. Ellie Goulding

She has been on my to-see list for quite some time now. Ellie is absolutely amazing and her live show, I have heard, is just as stunning. Her voice translates very well into a live setting and her music is all the more powerful when blasted out to thousands of people. The song I am most excited to see of hers has to be JOY. I know its a softer, more emotional song, but I absolutely adore it. I am not sure if it is a song that makes it into her live sets or not, but I will be crossing my fingers that she slows things down for a minute to play this one.



2. Lana Del Rey

She is another female vocalist that I cannot wait to see this year at Coachella. I know she always kills her live performances. They may not be the most lively of sets, but it will be really nice to just hang out and watch her do her thing. She has so many huge tracks, from Young & Beautiful to Video Games, that I am sure the crowd will be singing along with every word in every song. The one I am most excited to see is definitely Off To The Races. I love it because it is one of the few LDR songs with a really awesome beat. A lot of her music is focused around her voice and has little to no percussion at all, so this track will be our chance to get a little dancing in during her set.

3. Lorde

There really is nothing left to be said about Lorde. She is fantastic. Being only 17 and having an incredible voice made her an instant star. After releasing Royals she has seen nothing but success and adoration around the world. Her set is easily one of the most highly anticipated sets of the festival, as it is very rare we get the chance to see her due to her mass popularity. I expect her set to be one of the most crowded stages of the weekend. Since I am sure you all know every Lorde song inside and out, I wanted to show my favorite remix of one of her tracks. FFFRRANNNO flips one of her older tracks, Bravado, into a really great mellow trap tune that I have been listening to for about a year and still can't get enough of. Check it below.



4. Banks

I posted about Banks a couple months back, introducing her music to you all. She is a very up and coming artist and has just recently been gaining a lot of attention around the blogosphere. Her soft voice matched with dark, mellow beats creates a very unique sound that sets Banks apart from other solo female acts. It's definitely not music I can listen to at any time, but when it is the right time, it is perfect. Her latest song, Brain, which was produced by Shlohmo, another artist that will be at Coachella this year, is sure to make her setlist. Do yourself a favor and check out Banks this year and see something new!

5. HAIM

I had to throw HAIM on this list because they aren't just one leading lady, they have three leading ladies! This all girl band is a must see at Coachella this year. After releasing their breakout single Forever, these three sisters had nowhere to go but up. They released their debut album last September, which has earned them a spot at every major festival this season. Their fun, upbeat indie rock jams are sure to kill it at Coachella this year. I can't wait to see them perform Falling, although I know it won't matter what songs they play, because they are all so good! Definitely check them out.

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #12: Flume

I knew Coachella would be jumping on the Downtempo train, as that obscure genre has seen massive growth over the past year. They made an excellent choice adding Flume to the line up! I am sure his set will be one of the most interesting DJ performances of the festival.

This Australian-based producer got his biggest break from his remix of Disclosure's You & Me that blew up on the blogosphere last year. This song is massive. The string samples and the huge bass in the drop makes this a certified banger. I can't wait to see how it sounds in the Sahara tent with it bumping! Check it out below



After to getting to know his music more, I found some other really awesome tracks by Flume. He released his deluxe edition self-titled debut album last year and it was definitely one of the coolest electronic album releases of 2013. His unique production style and heavy use of sampling gives the album a really cohesive sound and sets it apart from your typical EDM album. He also grabs some awesome features from the likes of How To Dress Well, Ghostface Killah, Jazzabelle Doran and T-Shirt to name a few. My favorite tracks from the album include: Sleepless, Change, Space Cadet, and Warm Thoughts. Check out these tracks on our Spotify Playlist!

I also learned that Flume is one half of another awesome production duo that I have been a fan of called What So Not. I had no idea Flume, alongside Emoh Instead, was behind that as well. I am sure some What So Not music will be featured in his Coachella set. They run along a similar vein as Flume, but a little more trappy and upbeat than Flume's solo work. Check out their track Touched below and see what I mean!


Come check out Flume at Coachella with me this year! I promise you won't regret that decision.

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachela Spotlight #11: Classixx

Last year I got super into more simple, relaxed house music and less of the intense electro house rage music. There were a select few artists that helped me make that transition, and Classixx was one of them. I am excited to get a good buzz going and have a good time to their music at Coachella!

Classixx released their debut full length album last year, which is how they gained enough buzz to land this nod from Goldenvoice. Their album, Hanging Gardens, was released to both critical acclaim and fan adoration. The first single off the album is called Holding On, and it is the first Classixx tune I ever heard. I love the groovy bass lines throughout the whole song and the keys give it that happy daytime vibe that I love. Check it out below!



Their album is full of both fun and relaxing songs. Other favorites of mine include Dominoes, Fax From the Beach and Jozi's Fire. Also, the entire remix pack for Holding On is excellent. All three remixes retain the vibe of the original, but amp it up in various ways to bring more life to the track. Check those songs out on our Spotify Playlist!

Classixx alwys does an excellent job at remixing as well. I thought I would throw up a couple of my favorite remixes of theirs for your listening pleasure. See which one you like best below!




I hope they are relatively early on in the day at Coachella so we can all get day drunk together and dance around like idiots to their smooth, funky beats! See you there!!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #10: CHVRCHES

It will be really cool to finally see one of 2013's biggest buzz bands live at Coachella this year! They're infectious indie/electro pop sound booked CHVRCHES trip to the desert long ago.

This Scottish trio burst onto the scene in 2012 with the release of their first hit single The Mother We Share. This track put Chvrches on the map. This song has been around for so long though, so I wanted to show my personal favorite track from their debut album. I am huge fan of Gun. I love the synths that remind me of one of Tom Cruise's epic running scenes from any of his movies in the 80's. This track has great pacing and it keeps you wanting more all the way through. Check it out below!

Chvrches is also a very remixable band since all they use are samples, drum machines and synths to complement the vocals. There's nothing I love more than finding a remix that sticks close to the original track, but makes it even better. These remixes of Lies by Ikonika and Tourist respectively, bring two totally new vibes to the track, but still keep the vocals intact. I love seeing what artists can do to other artists' creations. Check them out for yourself!





I look forward to experiencing Chvrches live this April! Do yourself a favor and get familiar so you don't miss out.

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #9: MS MR

MS MR is one of those bands that I am excited to check out early on in the day at Coachella this year. The duo have a unique sound that I think will translate very well live.

The first time I had heard a MS MR song was through a remix of their song Thinking Of You that I posted about a while back by Haerts. Although I love the remixes of their songs, their originals are just as excellent. Their debut LP, Secondhand Rapture, came out last year and it is full of fun, but still mildly melancholy, indie-pop tunes. The best of which being the lead single, Hurricane. I love the way the vocals float over the pounding percussion and dreamy synths/effects used throughout. Check out the video for Hurricane below!

Back to those remixes I mentioned... their songs remix so well! I wanted to put up this remix of their track Fantasy by Xaphoon Jones. It is amazing. The chill trap vibe and cascading synths make this song both relaxing and dance-able at the same time. Xaphoon nailed this one. Check out the remix below

I hope you all check them out at Coachella this year. They will put on a great show!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #7: Rudimental

There is always one drum and bass artist at Coachella. This year.. it's Rudimental.

I have been intrigued with Rudimental since hearing their their track Feel The Love with another artist who will be at Coachella this year, (Can anyone say guest appearance!?!?) John Newman. This song made every playlist of mine for about a year. It is now out on their debut album called Home!

Their debut album is fantastic. It has such an array of genres and guest vocalists and sounds. It is an amazing interpretation of dance music that is definitely worth checking out. Some other vocalists they used on the album include: Emeli Sande, Foxes, Alex Clare and more. There are so many solid tracks on the album, so I am going to just throw a couple I love the most on here for you all.

Seeing Rudimental at Coachella will never be a bad decision. You will see me there!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #6: City and Colour

City and Colour was at my very first Coachella back in 2011, but I was ignorant then, and didn't know what I was missing. This time I will be sure to catch him perform, even if just for a song or two!

City and Colour, otherwise known as Canadian-born Dallas Green and the ex-frontman of post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, has been making amazing acoustic rock since 2005, and his maturity as a song-writer shows in every song. The first song that I heard from him was probably his biggest song to date. I am sure many City and Colour fans despise this song because it got so popular, but I still love it! Check out The Girl below.



His album after Bring Me Your Love, though, became my favorite album of his. I loved how he transitioned to more of an acoustic rock sound with a full band instead of continuing more on the mellow side as a soloist. It was hard to pick which song to highlight on this post from this album, therefore I decided to choose by which song that randomly ends up in my head the most, and that would be Grand Optimist. This song shows Dallas being very self-reflective, as he tries to figure out where he gets his pessimism from. The lyrics and the melancholy tone have stuck with me ever since my first listen. Check it out for yourself.

Dallas released his latest full-length LP last year to much critical acclaim. The new album, The Hurry And The Harm, features 12 solid acoustic rock jams with a little bit of a country/blues sound lightly sprinkled on top. This album will be the one he supports heavily in his live set at Coachella. I am really excited to hear him perform some of his new material. To get a taste of the new album, check out Harder Than Stone below!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #5: Bombay Bicycle Club

I was only vaguely familiar with Bombay Bicycle Club before this year. However, now that I have gotten to know their music, I realized I have been missing out all this time!

Bombay Bicycle Club is a London-based, indie rock quartet whose name, as silly as it sounds, hails from a chain of indian restaraunts in the UK. The reason they are at Coachella this year is because their fourth studio album, So Long, See You Tomorrow, is coming out on February 3rd. The lead single from this album, Carry On, has been out for a couple months, and they have released two other singles from the album, with It's Alright Now and Luna, which can be heard on their SoundCloud.

All of their previous albums have gone Gold, in terms of sales, but my favorite one is their most recent, called A Different Kind of Fix. It contains their hits Shuffle, Lights Out, Words Gone and How Can You Swallow so Much Sleep. Everyone has heard these songs before, though.. so I wanted to put up some nice remixes of each for your listening pleasure.



I am really excited to check these guys out at Coachella this year. I am sure there set will be full of energy and fun to watch. Check out their music on our Spotify Playlist!

Enjoy! <3

Coachella Spotlight #4: Chance The Rapper

If you have not heard of Chicago's Chance The Rapper by now, you most definitely will in 2014. Besides OutKast, his set is one of the most highly anticipated hip-hop performances of Coachella this year.

Chance topped what seemed like every single top 10 list for mixtapes released in 2013. There was nothing but the highest praise for his Acid Rap mixtape last year. His unique sound and productions, which he has self-dubbed as acid rap, first grabbed the attention of Childish Gambino, who gave him his first major break by using him as the opening act on his tour back in 2012. Since then Chance has seen tremendous growth in his music and his fan base. Here is one of my favorite tracks of his, featuring Childish Gambino!


The very first song I ever fell in love with of Chance's was Acid Rain. I loved the laid back, minimal beat that really allows his storytelling ability to shine through. His personal stories and experiences he shares also bring a nice emotional side to the song as well. Check it below!



Since Acid Rap, he has been featured in tracks with major artists like Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne and James Blake just to name a few. Despite so much attention lately, he has turned down record contracts from major labels, including an offer from Kendrick Lamar's TDE label. I respect his commitment and passion for the music and not about cashing in on early success. Here is another really cool track he did as a hidden track on his Mixtape with Nosaj Thing called Paranoia. I love the combo of EDM and hip-hop coming together for this track that was later featured on Adidas' "Songs From Scratch" series.



You can download Acid Rap for free on Datpiff, so make sure you take advantage of that! Also, if you dig him, Like him on Facebook! I cannot wait to check him out live at Coachella. It is sure to be memorable!

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #3: Michael Brun

Michael Brun is easily in the top 3 DJ sets at Coachella I am looking forward to seeing. His quintessential progressive house sound will be AMAZING in the Sahara Tent! If you have ever for a second been a progressive house fan, you HAVE to check out Michael Brun.

This guy literally has too many awesome remixes/tracks for me to highlight with one post. It's ridiculous. So, let me at least show you guys the one that really brought his name to my attention. He got his hands on an already amazing track by Dash Berlin called Steal You Away, and WOW!! If you do not enjoy this song... there must be something wrong with you. Hands down, this is one of my favorite progressive songs of all time. See what I mean below

From this point I will let you decide which your remix of his is your favorite, because their are so many good ones on his SoundCloud to hear more of those. Now I want to show some of his original work, as he just released his new Gravity EP a couple months ago. Despite there only being three tracks on the EP, it is still a well rounded release. Each song is totally different from the other two. My personal favorite right now is Antares because I am really into that bass sound right now and the house-y vibe it has. But, they are all great! Check them out for yourself below!

For more of his awesome remixes, check out our Spotify Playlist! Like him on Facebook and do not miss him at Coachella this year!! You won't regret checking him out.

Happy Coachella! <3

Coachella Spotlight #1: Washed Out

For my first installment of my Coachella Spotlight series, I wanted to post about a band that I am anxiously looking forward to seeing at Coachella. Last year I stumbled upon Washed Out and they kind of opened a new door for me in terms of listening to a new style of music to me. His mellow, electronic/rock fusion really grabbed me and I can't wait to see how it translates live with a full band.

Washed Out (a.k.a. Ernest Greene) is a singer/songwriter from Georgia (USA). His first full length album, Within And Without, is the one I first heard and fell in love with. The name Washed Out actually perfectly describes his music. Whether or not that is why he named himself that, I am unsure... but I like to think so! The big single off of this album was Amor Fati. You can listen to this track and it will immediately bring warmth and light into your day. I love listening to it when I'm drinking coffee in the morning or basking in the sun rays on a nice day.



Other favorite tracks from this album include: Eyes Be Closed and Soft

Washed Out's second album, Paracosm, just came out last August, which is what he will be promoting by touring this winter and spring. It still has that same sun-bathed, washed out sound but the production quality has improved and the songs have more depth. It is a great sign of progress for this budding artist. Check out the music video for my favorite track from the album, called All I Know, below!

I can't wait to lay on the grass at the Polo Fields and soak in the desert sun while listening to Washed Out perform. That will make me one happy camper.

Before I leave you to dive into more of their music, I wanted to offer up one of my favorite remixes that has made a few of my playlists in the past six months. Star Slinger takes one of my favorite tracks and turns it into something completely new. I love the chill trap vibes with the washed out, undulating vocals. Simply a great remix all around.

Happy Coachella! <3